Announcement

Protecting Buildings and Your Space from Sub-zero Temperature Impacts

February 03, 2023

An arctic cold front is forecast for New York City beginning today, Friday, February 3 through Saturday, February 4. With the wind chill, temperatures today and tomorrow will at times reach as low as -5 degrees Fahrenheit (-21 Celsius) and winds approaching 40 miles per hour. 

Extreme cold weather and high winds make buildings highly susceptible to dangerous or damaging situations, such as frozen pipes, flooding, flying debris and more.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

  • Close and lock all windows, including in spaces not normally occupied. It is in these "forgotten" rooms that, in addition to wasting energy, an open window can cause freezing and split pipes with resulting damage.
  • Ensure the heat is on and working in all rooms.
  • Leave all radiator valves and fan coils turned on to ensure adequate heating and to avoid freeze damage. Fan coils should be set to the slowest speed setting. If you have questions about valve or coil settings, please contact the Facilities Services Center.
  • Clear clothing or furniture away from heaters to avoid inadequate heating that may cause freeze-ups and damage.
  • Make sure all faucets are off.
  • Close fume hoods when not in use and shut down non-essential lab equipment.
  • If going outdoors, follow tips from New York City’s Severe Weather site to stay warm and be aware of the signs of hypothermia.

WHAT WE ARE DOING
Our staff will be walking the rooms of campus buildings, looking for conditions such as open windows or leaks. We also have additional staff on hand to provide a fast response to service requests and emergencies. Our Facilities Services Center (212-854-2222) is prepared to handle increased volume.

CONTACT US
If you see an unsafe condition including leaks, opened windows and doors, or other issues, please contact the Facilities Services Center immediately by calling or texting (212) 854-2222 or emailing [email protected]. The Services Center is open 24/7 to respond. In the event of an on-campus emergency, contact Public Safety at 212-854-5555 (Morningside Campus) or 212-853-3333 (Manhattanville Campus), or 911 if appropriate.

We appreciate your support and patience as we work together to keep our campus safe, beautiful and functional. Please stay safe and warm.

Tags
Operations